China appears to be laying the groundwork for the broad collection of DNA samples from residents of a restive, largely Muslim region that's been under a security crackdown, rights observers and independent experts said on Monday.

The Human Rights Watch has urged Myanmar to guarantee religious freedom for all minorities, amid growing tensions between different belief systems in the country, according to a report released on Monday.

Human Rights Watch said in a new report that the rebels known as Houthis have used land-mines in at least six provinces since March 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition launched its military campaign against them.